Call-box



(No Model.) I 2 sheets-sheet 1. E. R. WILDER.

GALL BOX.' No. 462,785. Patented Nov'. l0, 1891.

,F l' G14 Je W'J UULLMLLA i of@ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. R. WILDER.

GALL BOX. No. 462,785. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

EDMUND R. \VILDER, OF KANSAS CITY PATENT OEEICE.

, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE lVILDER.

DUPLEX ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM AND MESSENGER COMPANY, OF

lVEST VIRGINIA.

CALL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,785, dated November 10, 1891.

Application filed December 17, 1890. Serial No. 374,977- (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND R. \VILDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Call-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to call-boxes or rnessenger-boxes such as are used in ordinary district-messenger systems and the like, and has for its object to provide convenient, cheap, and simple boxes. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of the interior of the box. Fig. 2 is a partly-diagrammatic view of the circuits. Fig. 3 is a face view of the box. Fig. 4 is a detail ot' the signal-key. Fig. 5 is a detail.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all of the figures.

A is a case, having` .the dial B with the pointer C thereon and the various calls D D indicated thereon. there are ten calls indicated.

E j are binding-posts, from which leads conductors to the central station.

E2 is a binding-post from the conductor to ground.

E3 E3 are lugs by which the box is secured in position. The hinding-post Eis connected with the contact F, and the binding-post E with the contact F', and the binding-post E2l with the contact F2. From F a conductor G leads to the curved spring-contact G, which engages the spring-pull G2, which is secured at G3 to the insulating-base H. From the point G3 the conductor G4 leads through the base H and under the base to the post G141 G1". To this post is secured the strip G5, which normally makes contact with the pin G, from which leads a conductor GT through the base and across to the contact F', and thence to the binding-post E and back to the station. Thus a metallic circuit is made through these various parts through the box connecting with the two metallic central-station conductors K K. On this metallic circuit there is at all times a central-station battery, so that a constant current is passing through the box along the line now traced. From the contact- In the box in question` plate F a second conductor J leads through the insulation-base and thence to the electromagnets J J. From this magnet J leads the conductor J2 to the post J3, upon which is 55 the spring J4, opposed to and normally free from the contact-point From this contactpoint leads a cond uctorJ to the contact-point J", normally free from the opposed spring Js upon one end of the strip G". contact-point opposed to the strip J S, and from which leads the conductor J10, which passes under the insulating-plate and thence connects with the outer pen J, which is normally free from the double contacting-strip J, which is connected with the conductor J 13, which leads to the contact standard or point G6. From this the circuit by the conductor GT has already been traced to the contact standard o r point J 5, opposed to the spring J 4, 7o

from which leads the conductor K underneath the insulation-plate to the contact-spring F2, which leads to the ground.

L is a contact-strip secured upon the insnlating-body H and adapted to be engaged the spring-hook L3 is pulled downWardly--the 8o direction indicated by the arro\v-this arm J4 is momentarily thrown in contact with the standard J 5, and when the arm is released this contact is also immediately broken.

M is a spring-armature controlled by the magnets J J and provided at one end with a point M to engage the projecting end M2 of the pivoted strip G57 and carrying also at the same end a dog M3 to engage the wheel M4, and thus lock the clock mechanism which 9o is contained within the case M5.

M6 is a sort of hellecrank lever, one end ot which is adapted to be engaged by the dog MT on the -rotating signaling-disk MS andthe other end ot' which is notched at M to en- 95 gage the shoulder MO on the armature M, and thus hold the same in proximity with the poles of the magnets J J The notch M9 is normally disengaged from the shoulder M10,

but falls down by gravity or by a spring, if roo preferred, to engage the same when the armature is pulled up against the poles of the J9 is a similar 6o electromagnets. The disk M is provided with the box-number notches N N and the call-notches N2 N2.

O is an interior pen connected with the conductor O', which leads to the post G14. From the post G14 it is connected with the conductor G4, which leads to the spring-arm G2.

P P are rollers on the ends of the pens.

R is insulation interposed between the spring JB and the strip G5.

S is insulation separating the pens O and J11 and the central contact-strip J12.

The'us'e and operation of my invention are as fol-lows: Assuming the box to be in the position shown in Fig. 3, the calls D D are arranged so as to correspond with the signalnotches N2 N2, and the hand or pointer C is connected with the clock mechanism, so that when such hand is moved, as indicated by the arrow, and permitted to rest upon any given call the pens will be carried past the corresponding notch and the clock mechanism will be wound up, and here the mechanism rests, neither of the pen-rollers being in a slot. In this situation there is a metallic circuit from the station to contact F along conductor G to spring-contact G to the arm G2, plate G5, conductor G4 to post G14 along strip G5, back down G6, along conductor G7 to contact F', and thence back to the station. In this metallic circuit at the station there is placed a battery, so that a current continuously flows over the described circuit. If now we pull down upon the spring-pull L3, the point -or projection L2 will engageV the bent end of the spring-piece J4 and force the same against the contact or standard J5. As soon as this circuit is closed by the engagement of these two parts and during their engagement, which is of course very brief, because contact is immediately broken when the pull L3 is released, a current is established as follows: A circuit is made from the station to contact F, thence along conductor J through magnets J J, conductor J2, post J2, spring J4, contact J5, conductor K, spring-plate F2, and thence to ground. There is at the central station a battery connected with the metallic wire which leads to contact-plate F and also connected to ground, so that from this circuit, part metallic and part ground, a current may be passed from the said grounded battery at the central station through the magnets J J in the box. It now the metallic conductor leading from the central stationto the plate F should be vdisconnected or broken, the circuit fromthe station would be as follows: over the conductor from the station leading to the contact F', thence along conductor G7 to contact G5, thence back on the spring-plate G5 to the post G14, thence along conductor G4 through plate G5, arm G2, plate G,lconductor G, plate F, conductor J,`mag nets J J, conductor J2, post J3, spring J4, contact J5, conductor K, contact-plate F2, and thence to ground. From this 'it will appear that when by drawing down the spring-pull L5 a contact is momentarily made between the post J5 and the spring or arm J4, a circuit is closed through either or both of the metallic wires leading from the station to the contactplates F and F and through the ground from the station to the ground-contact plate F2 of the box, and also that this circuit, in whichever of these two ways formed, embraces the magnets J J, so as to place them in circuit with a grounded battery at the station. These magnets when thus sufficiently energized draw to them the armature M and thus release the clock mechanism, permitting the elbowlever M4 to fall and its notch M2 to engage the shoulder M10, and thus lock for a limited period the armature near the poles of the mag'- net, and by the engagement ot the projection M of thel armature with the projection M2 from the post G14 throws the strip G5 upwardly, so as to disconnect it from the contact-post G and to bring the spring JS into contact with the point J7, it being already in contact with the point J9. It will be observed, it not from the foregoing at least from the succeeding tracing of the circuits, that this motion of the arm G5 removes the shunt from the metallic circuit heretofore traced and places the pen O in such circuit so long as the same is in the position indicated in Fig. 1. This circuit will now be traced: Leaving the station on the metallic conductor which leads to the plate F, it would pass to the conductor G, strip G', arm G2, plate G5, conductor G4, conductor O', pen O, contact-strip J12, conductor J15, con- IOO tact-post G5, 'conductor G7, 'plate F', and l thence back to the station by the other metallic conductor; Thus the pen O, so long as it is retained in contact with the strip J12, is included in a close'dmetallic circuit from the station and including at the station a battery which furnishesv a current for such circuit. The mechanism being released,as above described, the disk moves in the direction ot' the arrow, (shown in Figs. l and 2,) and evidently every time the roller P descends into one Yof the slots or notches this metallic circuitis broken and a suitable signal is given at the central station over the metallic circuit just described. Should either of these metallic conductors from the station to the box be broken or disconnected, so that no call or signal could be given by the pen O, the signal is returned by the pen J11 over the ground-circuit. This circuit we will now trace: Beginning with the ground at the station, we pass to theground at the box, thence to the contact-strip F2, then along conductor K to the contact-point or standard J5, thence along conductor J5 to contact J7, and since this IIO contact is during the operation of the box in contact with the spring J 8 we pass from contact when this roller is not in a slot. The two rollers are so positioned that they cannot be simultaneously in slots. To trace the circuit we pass, in the first instance, along the strip J12, conductor J 13, contact-point GG, conductor G7 to contact-plate F', thence to the station, and thence also to the ground at the station, thus making a complete circuit through the ground and the metallic connections from the station to the plate F. rlhis is the operation or the circuit used in case the conductor from plate F to the station is disconnected or broken. If now the other conductor, or the one from plate F to the station, is disconnected or broken, the circuitis as follows: The circuit is of course in like manner traced from stationground to the ground at the box, and thence to the pen J, thence through the contactstrip J12 to the pen O, thence to conductor O', conductor G4, plate G3, arm G2, plate G, contact G, plate F, and back over that metallic conductor to the station. Thus in the event of either of the metallic conductors from box to station being broken the pen JIl will give the signal over a circuit composed of the other metallic conductor and the ground connections, and if both of the metallic conductors are intact the call is made by the pen O over a complete metallic circuit composed of both these metallic conductors from the box to the station. If now one of the metallic conductors between the station and the box should be grounded, so that there would be a short ground-circuit from such grounded point to the ground at the station, it is obvious that no current would flow through the magnets when the ground-circuit to the box is completed, as the vcurrent which normally would iiow through such magnets is cut off. Now in this case when the person pulls the pullL3 no result is obtained. Having discovered this, the object of the person at the call-box is to signal the oflfce, so as to secure a sufficient current through the magnets J J to operate the box. He does this in the following manner: He pulls down the arm G4 until it engages the plate L, whereupon the magnets J J are switched into the metallic circuit, so as to add to such circuit a resistance equal to that in the magnets, and the metallic circuit within the central station is provided with a signal-call, which operates the moment such resistance is thrown into the metallic circuit. Ve will now trace the circuit by which the magnets are thus thrown into the metallic circuit: leaving the station and passing along the metallic conductor to plate F, thence along conductor J, through the magnets J J', thence to conductor J2, post J5, conductorL,

vplate L, arm G2, plate G3, conductor G4, post the metallic circuit as given. The operator `lat the central station having received this call switches into the metallic circuit a suiciently strong electric current and causes the battery J J to pull up the armature M, whereupon the box mechanism begins to rotate, and if the arm G2 is released and restored to its normal position the giving in ofthe calls will proceed, as heretofore described. The calls would ofcourse be given in, even though the arm should be held upon the plate L; but in practice the arm is usually released.

The circuits which I have describedI variously identify as follows: The ground-circuit is that circuit which is composed of the ground connection from the box to the station and of either one or both of the metallic conductors from the box to the station, and this ground-circuit is also described as the starting-circuit, as it is this circuit which is normally used to start thebox. The metallic circuit composed of the two metallic conductors from the station to the box is also described as the signaling-circuit, for itis over this circuit that the call or signal is normally sent.

I claiml. In a call-box, the combination of a signaling mechanism, a starting mechanism in a normally-broken circuit, a hand-switch in the box, a metallic circuit of two conductors connecting the box and station and a battery in such circuit which supplies a continuous normal current, a ground-circuit composed in part of one or both of the conductors of such metallic circuits and containing an independent battery which may supply a current heavier than the normal current, said switch adapted to control the ground-circuit so as to momentarily complete the same over either or both the metallic conductors, and thus by such heavy battery start the box, said starting mechanism in such switch-controlled circuit adapted to release the fsignaling mechanism and said signaling mechanism adapted to be connected with either the metallic or ground circuit, so that by the action of the switch the heavy battery on the ground-circuit starts the box and the signal is given.

2. In a call-box, the combination of a signaling mechanism, a starting mechanism in a normally-broken circuit, a hand-switch in the box, a metallic circuit of two conductors connecting the box and station, and a batteryin such circuit composed in part of one orboth of the conductors of such metallic 'circuits and containing an independent battery which may supply a current heavier than the normal current, said switch adapted to control the ground-circuitso as to momentarilycomplete the same over either or both the metallic conductors, and thus by such heavy battery start the box, said starting mechanism in such switch-controlled circuit adapted to release the signaling mechanism and said signaling mechanism adapted to be connected with either the metallic or ground circuit, so

IOO

that by the action of the switch the heavy battery on the ground-circuit starts the box andthe signal is given, said signaling mechanism being duplex with one part in the ground-circuit and another part in the metallic circuit, so that the signal may be given over-either or both the said circuits.

3. In a call-box, the combination of a signaling mechanism, a starting mechanism in a normally-broken circuit, two hand-switches in the box, a metallic circuit ot two conductors connecting the box with the station, a ground-circuit composed in part of one or both of such metallic circuits, said switches controlling the circuit of the starting mechanism, so that said starting mechanism may be connected with the ground or metallic circuit at will, and thus the starting mechanism be set.

in operation.

4. 1n a call-box, the combination of a signaling mechanism with a metallic signalingcircuit connecting the same with the central station, so that a feeble normal current traverses such circuit at all times and traverses the mechanism when the same is released, so as to give the signal,a starting mechanism in the box, a handswitch constructed to momentarily hold the starting mechanism in the metallic circuit, said starting device adapted to be operated only by a current different from that normally flowing and adapted only to start the box and to be released to then permit the normal circuit to give the signal.

5. In a call-box, the combination of a signaling mechanism with a metallic signalingeircuit connecting the box with the station and normally closed and carrying the normal current,- a starting device in the box, a'handswitch whereby the same may be included in the metallic circuit, said starting device containing a certain considerable resistance, so that when the same is included in the metallic circuit the normal current is varied and a signal is given to the central station by such variation in said current, said starting mechanism adapted to be operated only by a current different from that normally llowing and adapted only to start the box and to be then released, so as to restore the normal current and let it give the signal. l

G. In a call-box, the combination'of a signaling mechanism, ametallic circuit connecting the box and the station, a ground-circuit composed in part of such metallic circuit, connecting the box and the station, a starting mechanism in the box, a switch whereby such starting mechanism may be connected either with the metallic circuit or the ground-circuit and adapted to release the signalingmeehanism when energized, and a switch whereby the signaling mechanism may be connected to either the metallic or ground circuit, so as to give the signal over either.

EDMUND R. WILDER.

Witnesses:

CELESTE P. CHAPMAN, J EAN ELLIOTT. 

